Biography of Albon P. ManFranklin County, NY Biographies

Albon P. Man, born in Westville in June, 1826, studied law in New York eity after graduation at Union College,
and about 1850 located in Malone for practice of the profession. He was also an expert surveyor. In 1859 he was
elected district attorney, but before the completion of his term of office joined in raising the 98th regiment
of volunteers in the civil war, and became major of the command. Mr. Man's temperament was not martial, however,
and the service became so irksome to him that after about a year in the field he resigned. He located in New York
city soon after his return from the front, intending to practice law there, but in a short time was intrusted with
the management of the large Lorillard estate and business, and for a considerable period gave practically all of
his attention to the handling of that trust. Later he took up the study of electricity, and became an authority
in the science. Forming a partnership with Frederick Sawyer, a practical worker in electrical problems and devices
Mr. Man supplying the suggestions and theories and Mr. Sawyer developing them, they accomplished between them results
of value and importance. Among these was the invention and perfection of an incandescent lamp very like to that
now in so general use; there was a long and hard contest in the courts for determination of whether they or Edison
were first with the invention and patent. Though losing the legal battle, Mr. Man nevertheless insisted that the
Sawyer Man lamp antedated the Edison. Major Man was one of the most entertaining and informing conversationalists
that it was ever my good fortune to know, and was in every way a high minded and useful citizen. He died in Brooklyn
February 18, 1905.